Desk construction



Aug. 29, 1967 Filed May 9, 1966 K. D. SCHREYER 3,338,647

DESK CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet I Inventor KENNETH D. SCHRE YER ATTYS.

Aug. 29, 1967 K. D. SCHREYER DESK CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet 5' FiledMay 9. 1966 Aug. 29, 1967 K. D. SCHREYER DESK CONSTRUCTION '7Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 9. 1966 mwv MOM vmm wmm mm mm 5 ON OMN NMM nmmNmm mw 00v owv 2 v mwm mO wmm Aug. 29, 1967 K. 0. SCHREYER 3,338,647

DESK CCNSTRUCTION Filed May 9. 1966 7 Sheets-Sheet :3

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1967 K. D. SCHIIQEYER DESK CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 9, 1966Aug-.29, I K SCHREYER 3,338,647

DESK CONSTRUCTION Fi-led May 9,1966 7 Sheets-Sheet v United StatesPatent 3,338,647 DESK CONSTRUCTION Kenneth D. Schreyer, Doylestown, Pa.,assignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, 111., acorporation of Illinois Filed May 9, 1966, Ser. No. 548,536 12 Claims.(Cl. 312194) The present invention relates to desk constructions, andparticularly to the construction of a machine bed desk.

It is highly desirable in modern offices to provide a machine bed deskwherein a first higher work surface is provided for normal writing,reading, and the like, and wherein a second lower or machine bed surfaceis provided for mounting calculating machines or the like, thereby toplace the machine at the most convenient level for the operator.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide animproved machine bed desk of the type set forth which is simple yetrugged in construction and which possesses all of the desiredcharacteristics of a desk of this type.

More specifically, it is another object of the invention to provide animproved structure for interconnecting a desk top and a machine bed topto accommodate the different vertical positions thereof while providingstrong interconnection therebetween.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of theinvention to provide a desk top having a pair of spaced apart mountingchannels secured to the underside thereof and extending substantiallyparallel to the front and rear edges thereof with leg structure adjacentto one end edge of the desk top for supporting it in the operativeposition above an underlying support surface, a machine bed top of thesame general dimensions front to back as the desk top and having oneedge thereof disposed beneath the other edge of the desk top with legstructure for supporting the other end edge of the machine bed top inthe operative position above an underlying support surface, a pair ofspaced apart mounting channels secured to the underside of the machinebed top and extending substantially parallel to the desk top mountingchannels and in general longitudinal alignment therewith, a back paneldisposed beneath the rear ones of the mounting channels and connectedthereto and serving to interconnect the .desk top and the machine bedtop at the rear thereof, and a reinforcing bracket disposed beneath thefront ones of the mounting channels and connected thereto and serving tointerconnect the desk top and the machine bed top at the front thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a machine bed desk ofthe type set forth a finishing panel disposed between the adjacent edgesof the desk top and the machine bed top and filling the area bounded bythe underside of the desk top and the upper side of the machine bed topand the front and rear edges of the tops, the finishing panel having anopening therethrough for receiving wiring for a machine disposed on themachine bed top.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a machine beddesk of the type set forth a back panel that.

is symmetrical about a plane extending longitudinally therethroughwhereby the desk top and the machine bed top and the rear panel can beconnected in a first configuration wherein the machine bed top isdisposed to the right of the desk top and a second configuration whereinthe machine bed top is disposed to the left of the desk top, all withoutany modification of the various parts involved.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular constructionand arrangement of the parts whereby the above-outlined and additionaloperating features thereof are attained.

3,338,647 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 The invention, both as to itsorganization and method of operation, together with further objects andadvantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to thefollowing specification taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a machine bed desk made in accordancewith an embodying the principles of the present invention, the machinebed top being disposed to the right of the desk top;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine bed desk of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine bed desk of FIGS. 1 and2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the machine bed desk of FIG. 2 asseen from the right thereof;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the machine bed desk of FIG. 2 asseen from the left thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in vertical section with certain portionsbroken away through the machine bed desk substantially along the line 66of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in vertical section with certain portionsbroken way through the machine bed desk as seen in the direction of thearrows along the line 77 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a portion of the underside of themachine bed desk of FIG. 7 as seen in the direction of the arrows alongthe line 88 thereof;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical section substantially as seenin the direction of the arrows along the line 99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a further enlarged view in vertical section of the portion ofthe desk contained within the circle designated by the numeral 10 inFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section wtih certainportions broken away along the line 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of therear panel forming a part of the machine bed desk of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a view showing a portion of the parts in FIG. 12 in anexploded position thereof;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the parts of the desk of FIG. 1 withthe parts in an exploded position further to illustrate theinterconnection between the desk top and the machine bed top and thedesk pedestal and the rear panel; and

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 but showing the parts rearranged toposition the machine bed top to the left of the desk top.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, there is illustrated amachine bed desk made in accordance with and embodying the principles ofthe present invention, the machine bed desk 100 including a desk top101, a pedestal 150, a machine bed top 200, an end panel 300, and a rearpanel 400', the parts being connected to position the machine bed top200 to the right of the desk top 101.

Referring also to FIGS. 6 to 9 of the drawings, the details ofconstruction of the desk top 101 will be described. The desk top 101includes a generally flat top plate 102 that is generally rectangular inshape, the corners thereof being rounded, the periphery of the top plate102 being generally the same as the periphery of the desk top 101.Disposed beneath the top plate 102 and extending around the peripherythereof is an edging 103 also formed of sheet metal, a substantiallyflat piece of sheet metal having been deformed to provide an attachmentflange 104, a side flange 105', a mounting flange 106, a bottom flange107 and an upturned flange 108. More specifically, the attachment flange104 is disposed against the underside of the top plate 102 but is spacedinwardly with respect to the outer edge thereof, the outer edge of theattachment flange carrying thereon the mounting flange 106 which isoffset downwardly away from the underside of the top plate 101 andextends outwardly slightly beyond the outer edge thereof. Asillustrated, the side flange 105 is integral with the mounting flange106 and depends therefrom and extends slightly inwardly toward thecenter of the top plate 102, the flange 105 making an angle of forexample 75 with respect to the mounting flange 106. The bottom flange107 is disposed on the lower edge of the side flange 105 and ex tendsinwardly substantially parallel to the flanges 104 and 106 and carrieson the inner edge thereof the upturned flange 108 that extends upwardlytoward the top plate 102 and is disposed substantially normal theretoand to the bottom flange 107.

Also disposed on the underside of the top plate 102 is a reinforcingsheet 110 formed from a substantially flat piece of sheet metal bent toprovide attachment portions 111, ribs 112 having side walls 113, andconnecting portions 114 at the periphery thereof. The attachmentportions 111 are disposed toward the underside of the top plate 102,there being a body of mastic (not shown) applied therebetween throughwhich a weld 116 is made to interconnect the attachment portions 111 andthe top plate 102 to provide a firm connection therebetween, the masticalso serving to deaden sound transmission therebetween. The side walls113 depend downwardly from the attachment portions 111 to form the ribs112 which are spaced from the underside of the top plate 102. Theconnecting portions 114 are offset from the underside of the top plate102 to accommodate therebetween portions such as the attachment flange104 on the edging 103, the three layers mentioned being connected as bywelding at 116.

Also mounted beneath the top 101 are two longitudinally extending andsubstantially parallel and spaced apart mounting channels 120, eachmounting channel 120 including a longitudinally extending main wall 121and a pair of depending side flanges 122 carrying on the lower endsthereof respectively inturned holding flanges 123. The mounting channels120' are disposed with the longitudinal axes thereof extendingsubstantially parallel to the front and rear edges of the desk top 101and substantially normal to the end edges thereof. As will be explainedin detail hereinafter, the pedestal 150 and the machine bed top 200 andthe rear panel 400 are connected to the desk top 101 by means of themounting channels 120.

Disposed on the upper surface of the top plate 102 is a covering 125preferably formed of a synthetic organic plastic resin, an adhesivebeing applied both to the upper surface of the top plate 102 and to thelower surface of the covering 125 to provide a good bond therebetween.To complete the desk top 101, a decorative trim 130 is providetherearound, the trim 130 including a decorative body 131 having anassociated mounting tongue 135 thereon that is releasably secured in aspace defined between the top plate 102 and the flange 106, see FIG. 10also.

Mounted on the lefthand end of the desk top 101 as viewed in FIGS. 1 and2 and secured thereto via the mounting channels 120 is a pedestal 150',the pedestal 150 being generally rectangular in both vertical andhorizontal cross sections. The pedestal 150 more specifically includes abody 151 having a rear wall 152 and a pair of forwardly extending sidewalls 153, a bottom wall 167 being provided therein and supporting apair of legs 155 between which extends a reinforcing channel 156, thelegs 155 serving to support the pedestal 150 above an underlyingsurface. The pedestal 150 further includes a front frame 160 (see FIG.6) formed of a pair of U- shaped channels 161 joined by splice channels164. The front frame 160 is provided with openings thereto for receivingbolts 145 that engage special nuts 140 disposed in the front mountingchannel 120 for connecting the front end of the pedestal 150 thereto. Arear top support 170 is provided in the rear of the pedestal 150 (seeFIG. 14) also having openings therethrough for receiving bolts such asthe bolts that engage special nuts 140 in the rear mounting channel 120to mount the rear end of the pedestal thereon. Finally, there isprovided in the pedestal 150 in an opening generally defined by thefront frame a shelf provided with a pull 176 and three box drawers 180provided with pulls 181. In order to hold the drawers 180 in the closedpositions thereof, a locking mechanism including a lock mounted on thefiont edging 103 has been provided, see FIGS. 1 and 2 a so.

Further details of the construction and arrangement of the desk top 101and the pedestal 150 can be found in the copending application forUnited States Letters Patent Ser. No. 503,157, filed Oct. 23, 1965, byKenneth D. Schreyer for Desk Construction. More specifically, the desktop 101 of the present invention has a construction identical to that ofthe desk top 101 in the aforesaid copending application and the pedestal150 in the present application has the same construction as the pedestal150 in the aforementioned copending application.

In accordance with the present invention, a machine bed top 200 isprovided for connection to the desk top 101, the top 200 having a frontto back dimension substantially the same as that of the desk top 101.Referring particularly to FIGS. 6 to 9 of the drawings, it will be seenthat the machine bed top 200 includes a generally flat top plate 202that is generally rectangular in shape, the corners thereof beingrounded, the periphery of the top plate 202 being essentially the sameas the periphery of the machine bed top 200. As may be best seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, the longitudinal extent of the machine bed top 200 issubstantially less than and is more particularly about one-half that ofthe desk top 101, but referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that thedepth or front-to-back dimension of the machine bed top 200 issubstantially equal to that of the desk top 101. Disposed beneath thetop plate 202 and extending about the periphery thereof is an edging 203also formed of sheet metal, a substantially flat piece of sheet metalhaving been deformed to provide an attachment flange 204, a side flange205, a mounting flange 206, a bottom flange 207 and an upturned flange208. More specifically, the attachment flang 204 is disposed against theunderside of the top plate 202 but is spaced inwardly with respect tothe outer edge thereof, the outer edge of the attachment flange 204carrying thereon the mounting flange 206 which is offset downwardly awayfrom the underside of the top plate 202 and extends outwardly slightlybeyond the outer edge thereof. As illustrated, the side flange 205 isintegral with the mounting flange 206 and depends therefrom and extendsslightly inwardly toward the center of the top plate 202, the flange 205making an angle of for example 75 with respect to the mounting flange206. The bottom flange 207 is disposed on the lower edge of the sideflange 205 and extends inwardly substantially parallel to the flanges204 and 206 and carries on the innerend thereof the upturne dflanges 208that extends upwardly toward the top plate 202 and is disposedsubstantially normal thereto and to the bottom flange .207.

Also disposed on the underside of the top plate 202 is a reinforcingsheet 210 formed substantially from a flat piece of sheet metal bent toprovide attachment portions 211, ribs 212 having side walls 213, andconnecting portions 214 at the periphery thereof. The attachmentportions 211 are disposed toward the underside of the top plate 202,there being a body of mastic (not shown) ap plied therebetween throughwhich a weld 216 is made to interconnect the attachment portions 211 andthe top plate 202 to provide a firm connection therebetween, the masticalso serving to deaden sound transmission therebetween. The side walls213 depend downwardly from the attachment portions 211 to form the ribs212 which are spaced from the underside of the top plate 202. Theconnecting portions 214 are offset from the underside of the top plate202 to accommodate therebetween portions such as the attachment flange204 on the edging 203, the three layers mentioned being connected as bywelding at 216.

Also mounted beneath the machine bed top 200 are two longitudinallyextending and substantially parallel spaced apart mounting channels 220,the mounting channels 220 being in longitudinal alignment with theassociated one of the mounting channels 120 on the desk top 101. Eachmounting channel 220 includes a longitudinally extending main wall 221and a pair of depending side flanges 222 carrying on the lower endsthereof respectively inturned holding flanges 223. As Will be explainedin detail hereinafter, the end panel 300 and the rear panel 400 areconnected to the machine bed top 200 by means of the mounting channels220.

Disposed on the upper surface of the top plate 202 i a covering 225preferably formed of a synthetic organic plastic resin, an adhesivebeing applied both to the upp r surface of the top plate 202 and thelower surface of the covering 225 to provide a good bond therebetween.To complete the machine bed top 200, a decorative trim 230 is providedtherearound, the trim 230 including a decorative body 231 having anassociated mounting tongue 235 thereon that is releasably secured in aspace defined between the top plate 202 and the flange 206.

As described above, the machine bed top 200 is substantially identicalin construction to the desk top 101 described in the aforementionedcopending application Ser. No. 503,157, and accordingly, reference ismade thereto for further details for the construction and arrangement ofthe parts of the machine bed top 200. In addition, however, the machinebed top 200 is provided with a pair of rectangular holes 218 therein ingeneral alignment with the mounting channels 120 and 220 (see FIG. 8)and also is provided with a pair of openings 219 therein.

As will be described more fully hereinafter, the rear edges of the desktop 101 and the machine bed top 200 are interconnected by the rear panel400, but there is no corresponding panel structure for interconnectingthe forward edges of the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200.Accordingly, a top reinforcing bracket 250 has been provided for firmlyinterconnecting the forward edge of the desk top 101 and the forwardedge of the machine bed top 200. Referring particularly to FIGS. 6, 8and 9 of the drawings, there-is illustrated therein the top reinforcingbracket 250 including a first arm 251 disposed beneath the adjacent endof the forward mounting channel 120, the arm 251 having threecountersunk openings 254 therethrough for receiving respectively threeflat head screws 145 engaging a flat bar 140A having three tappedopenings therein providing a tri-nut and disposed in the mountingchannel 120; in this manner, one end of the bracket 250 is firmlyconnected to the underside of the desk top 101. Integral with therighthand end of the bracket arm 250 as seen in FIG. 6 is a downwardlyextending connecting portion 252 carrying on the lower end thereof asecond arm 253, the arm 253 extending from the connecting portion 252-in a direction opposite to that of the arm 251, the two arms 251 and 253being disposed substantially parallel to each other. The connectingportion 252 extends downwardly through one of the rectangular holes 218in the adjacent end of the machine bed top 200 thereby to position thebracket arm 253 beneath the adjacent end of the forward mounting channel220 on the underside of the machine desk top 200. The arm 253 has threecountersunk openings 255 therethrough receiving respectively three flathead screws 145 that engage another tri-nut 140A in the mounting channel220, thereby fixedly to secure the bracket arm 253 to the underside ofthe machine desk top 200. The reinforcing brackets 250 is of very heavyconstruction and as illustrated has a width equal to that of themountingchannels 6 and 220 and has a thickness of one-half inch, whereby whenthe bracket 250 is formed of steel, it possesses a very great strength.

In order to close the space between the underside of the desk top 101and the upper side of the machine bed top 200, a filler or finishingpanel 260 has been provided, the finishing panel 260 including a frontwall 261 having a wiring opening 265 centrally thereof, the wall 261extending downwardly from the underside of the flange 107 on the desktop 101 and downwardly to the upper surface of the covering 225 on themachine bed top 200, the width of the panel 260 being equal to thedistance between the lower edges of the edging 103 on the desk top 101(see FIG. 9). Disposed on each end of the front wall 261 respectivelyare side walls 262 which extend therefrom toward the pedestal to coverand to conceal the reinforcing bracket 250. There further is provided onthe upper edge of the front wall 261 a top flange 263 and on the bottomedge thereof a bottom flange 264, the bottom flange 264 being secured byscrews 266 to the machine bed top 200.

Disposed at the righthand end of the machine bed top 200 is the endpanel 300, the details of construction of the end panel 300 being bestseen in FIGS. 6, 7 and 15 of the drawings. The end panel 300 morespecifically is disposed adjacent to the righthand edge of the machinebed top 200 and extends from a point substantially at the lower edge ofthe front edging 203 rearwardly to a point immediately below the loweredge of the back edging 203 and actually beyond the rear surface of theback panel 400. Referring to FIG. 7 it will be seen that the end panel300 includes a pair of substantially rectangular side walls 301 formedof sheet metal and disposed substantially parallel to each other, theends of the side walls 301 being enclosed by the end walls 302 and thebottom edges of the side walls 301 being provided with bottom flanges303 that overlap and are suitably secured together as by welding. Theinner side wall 301, i.e., the side wall disposed to the left in FIG. 7,has an inwardly directed upper flange 304 integral with the upper edgethereof and extending inwardly toward the pedestal 150. The outer sidewall 301, i.e., the side wall 301 disposed to the right in FIG. 7,extends upwardly slightly beyond the upper flange 304 and has integralwith the upper edge thereof an inwardly directed top flange 305 thatoverlies and bears against the upper flange 304 and is suitably securedthereto as by welding, the longitudinal extent of the flanges 304 and305 being somewhat less than the longitudinal extent of the end panel300. Disposed between the side walls 301 and the end walls 302 is afiller 310 of cellular construction and formed of a paper productincluding a pair of outer layers and adhesively secured to an inner bodyof honeycomb construction and more specifically, formed by suitably bentstrips of paper having adjacent surfaces glued together. The filler 310is further secured by bodies of mastic (not shown) to the inner surfacesof the end panel side walls 301 throughout substantially the entireadjacent areas thereof, whereby to form a strong yet lightweightstructure that has good sound deadening properties. Mounted in each endof the end panel 300 is a generally vertically arranged channel 320having the lower end thereof spaced upwardly from the lower end of theend panel 300 and extending upwardly beyond the upper end of the endpanel 300, the channel 320 including a main Wall 321 and a pair of sideflanges 322 integral therewith and disposed substantially parallel toeach other, whereby to provide a channel that is essentially U-shaped incross section. The side flanges 322 are suitably secured as by weldingto the inner surfaces of the side walls 301, the channel 320 extendingcompletely between the side walls 301. There further is disposed withinthe lower end of each of the channels 320 a leg support 323 including abottom wall 324 from which extends upwardly a pair of side walls 325.The side walls 325 are disposed within the side flanges 322 of theadjacent channel 320 and are suitably secured thereto as by welding.There further are provided in the bottom wall 324 two openings, and inalignment with each of the openings is an internally threaded nut 326for mounting an associated leg 315 thereon by means of a bolt 327.

At the upper end of each of the channels 320 there is provided an anchorclip 330 formed of a single sheet of metal shaped to provide the severalparts thereof including an attachment flange 331 resting upon the uppersurface of the top flange 305 and suitably secured thereto as bywelding. Extending upwardly from the attachment flange 331 is anupstanding flange 332 that carries on the upper edge therefor anoutwardly directed mounting flange 333, both the upstanding flange 332and the mounting flange 333 having wings 334 extending laterallytherefrom and provided in the mounting flange 333 with fastenerreceiving openings therein to receive bolts 335 for engagement with nuts140 in the associated mounting channel 220. Further, the mounting flange333 has on the outer edge thereof a downturned flange 336 which issuitably secured as by welding to the main wall 321 of the associatedupstanding channel 320, whereby the anchor clip 330 is fixedly securedboth to the channel 320 and the side walls 301.

Further details of the construction and arrangement and theinterconnection of the parts of the end panel 300 are set forth in theaforementioned copending application Ser. No. 503,157, the end panel 300of the resent invention being identical in construction with the endpanel 450 in the aforementioned application.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9 and 12 to 15 of the drawings, there areillustrated therein the details of construction and mounting of the backpanel 400, the back panel 400 being disposed toward the rear of the desktop 101 and immediately below the rear mounting channel 120 thereon andtoward the rear of the machine bed top 200 and immediately below therear mounting channel 220 thereon, the back panel 400 extending betweenthe pedestal 150 and the end panel 300. More specifically, the

back panel 400 includes an outer wall 401 which at the righthand endthereof as viewed in FIG. 3 extends from substantially the lower end ofthe pedestal 150 upwardly to a point spaced just below the desk top 101thereby to provide a lefthand section (as viewed from the front in FIG.2) of a first greater predetermined height, and is cut way as at 402adjacent to the righthand end of the desk top 101 to provide a secondsection of lesser vertical extent disposed beneath the machine bed top200. More specifically, the upper edge of the outer wall 401 is dividedinto a desk top edge 403 having an inwardly directed desk top flange 404thereon and a machine bed edge 405 having an inwardly directed machinebed flange 406 thereon. The lefthand edge of the outer wall 401 has alonger side flange 407 thereon and the righthand edge of the outer wall401 a shorter side flange 408 thereon. There also is provided on thebottom of the outer wall 401 an inwardly directed bottom flange 409 thatextends the entire length of the back panel 401. Finally, there isprovided on the vertical edge joining the desk top edge 403 and themachine bed edge 405 a vertical flange 410 extending inwardly andsubstantially joining the adjacent edges of the desk top flange 404 andthe machine bed flange 406.

The back panel 400 further comprises an inner wall 411 also having afirst portion of greater vertical extent disposed to the left and asecond portion of lesser vertical extent disposed to the right andbeneath the machine bed top 200, the upper portion of the inner wall 411being cut away as at 412 to provide the described structure. Morespecifically, a desk top edge 413 is provided to the left and havingthereon an outwardly directed desk top flange 414, the desk top flange414 being downwardly offset as at 414a (see FIG. 12) so as to receivethereover the desk top flange 404, the upper surfaces of the flanges 404and 414 being disposedin a common plane. Disposed beneath the machinebed top 200 is the machine bed edge 415 having an outwardly directedmachine bed flange 416 thereon the outer portion of the flange 416 beingoffset downwardly as at 416a (see FIG. 12) so that the flange 406 can bereceived thereon in a manner such that the upper surfaces of the flanges406 and 416 are disposed in the same plane. The longer side edge of theinner wall 411 has a longer side flange 417 thereon extending outwardlytherefrom substantially normal thereto, the outer portion of the flange417 being inwardly offset to receive thereon the side flange 407, theouter surfaces of the side flanges 407 and 417 being disposed in commonplane. The shorter or righthand edge of the inner wall 411 has a shorterside flange 418 thereon integral therewith and extending rearwardlytherefrom, the outer portion of the flange 418 being offset inwardly toreceive thereon the flange 408, the outer surfaces of the flanges 408and 418 lying in the same plane. Likewise the lower edge of the innerwall 411 has a bottom flange 419 thereon extending rearwardly therefromand having an upwardly offset portion receiving the bottom flange 409thereover, the lower surfaces of the flanges 409 and 419 lying in acommon plane. Finally, the vertical edge joining the desk top edge 413and the machine bed edge 415 has a rearwardly directed vertical flange420 thereon having a laterally offset portion receiving the verticalflange 410 thereover (see FIG. 12), whereby the outer surfaces of theflanges 410 and 420 are disposed in a common plane.

Disposed between the walls 401 and 411 and the several end walls is afiller 430 (see FIG. 9) of cellular construction and formed of a paperproduct, the filler 430 being of the same construction as the filler 310described above. The filler 430 is secured by bodies of mastic (notshown) disposed between the outer surfaces thereof and the innersurfaces of the walls 401 and 411, thereby fixedly to mount the filler430 in the back panel 400. After the Walls 401 and 411 are assembledabout the filler 430, the walls 401 and 411 are secured together as bywelding.

The back panel 400 is secured to the desk top 101 by attachment to therear mounting channel thereof and is secured to the machine bed top 200by mounting upon the rear mounting channel 220 thereof. To this endthere have been provided two pairs of support brackets 440, theconstruction connection of the support brackets 440 being bestillustrated in FIGS. 7, 12 and 13 of the drawings. Each of the brackets440 includes a top wall 441 that is generally flat and is provided withan opening 442 therein to receive a bolt 145 that engages one of thespecial nuts in the associated mounting channel 120 or 220, as the casemay be. Integral with each end of the top wall 441 are downwardlyextending legs 443 that extend downwardly through slots 421 formed inthe overlapping desk top flanges 404 and 414 and the overlapping machinebed flanges 406 and 416, as the case may be. Integral with the lower endof each of the legs 443 is an outwardly directed attachment flange 444which underlies the adjacent desk top flange 414 or machine bed flange416 and is suitably secured thereto as by welding. When the supportbrackets 440 are in the mounted position upon the back panel 400, thelegs 443 extend upwardly well above the associated desk top flange 404or the associated machine bed flange 406 whereby to permit the insertionof the associated bolt through the opening 442 in the top wall 441.Engagement of the bolts 145 with the special nuts 140 in the mountingchannels 120 and 220 serve firmly to mount the back panel 400 on thedesk top 101 and the machine bed top 200. Such mounting of the backpanel 400 also firmly interconnects the rear edges of the desk top 101and the machine bed top 200, thereby to hold these parts in the properassembled positions thereof.

In order to secure the lower lefthand corner of the back panel 400 tothe adjacent rear portion of the pedestal 150, a clip 450 has beenprovided (see FIGS. 7 and 15, particularly). The clip 450 is generally arectangular strip of metal bent and shaped to provide an attachmentflange 9 451 which lies against the underside of the pedestal bottomwall 167 and is secured thereto as by a screw 455. Integral with therighthand end of the flange 451, as viewed in FIG. 7, is an upwardlycurved portion 452 following the curvature of the pedestal 150 andextending upwardly through an opening in the lower lefthand corner ofthe back panel 400 and terminating in a back panel attachment flange 453disposed substantially parallel to the flange 451. The flange 453 moreparticularly rests upon the upper surface of the bottom flange 419 andis secured thereto by a screw 455. The righthand end of the flange 453carries thereon an offset flange 454 that is offset downwardly andextends through a second opening in the bottom flanges 409 and 419 andlying underneath the lower surface of the lowermost flange 409. In thismanner, the lower lefthand corner of the back panel 400 is securelyfastened to the rear righthand portion of the pedestal 150.

There further is provided between the lower right-hand corner of theback panel 400 and the lower rear corner of the end panel 300 a clip 460interconnecting the two panels named (see FIGS. 7 and 15). The clip 460is formed of a strip of metal bent to provide a back panel attachmentflange 461 that is disposed within the back panel 400 and lies upon theupper surface of the bottom flange 419, a screw 455 passing throughaligned openings in the bottom flanges 409 and 419 and threadedlyengaging an opening in the attachment flange 461. The righthand end ofthe attachment flange 461 as viewed in FIG. 7 has integral therewith adownwardly curved portion 462 passing through an opening in the bottomof the back panel 400 and essentially conforming to the curvature at thelower end of the end panel 300 and connecting with a second attachmentportion 463 and disposed beneath the end panel 300, a screw mounting therear leg 315 upon the end panel 300 also connecting the clip 460thereto.

The machine bed desk 100 thus described is strong in construction andreadily accommodates both work at the usual desk height upon the desktop 101 and work upon a machine mounted on the machine bed top 200. Asdescribed above, the machine bed top 200 is disposed to the right of thedesk top 101. In accordance with the present invention, the partsdescribed above can be readily rearranged without any alteration thereofto provide a machine bed desk wherein the machine bed top 200 isdisposed to the left of the desk top 101. More specifically, there isillustrated in FIG. 14 an exploded view of the parts of the machine beddesk 100 wherein the parts are arranged to have the machine bed top 200disposed to the right of the desk top 101 when the parts are viewed fromthe front of the desk 100.

There is illustrated in FIG. 15 the same parts as in FIG. 14 rearrangedto provide the machine bed top 200 disposed to the left with respect tothe desk top 101 when the parts are viewed from the front of the desk100. To accomplish this rearrangement of the parts, the variousconnections to the mounting channels 120 and the mounting channels 220are first removed as are the clips 450 and 460. The desk pedestal 150 isthen reassembled to the desk top 101 adjacent to the righthand endthereof and more specifically is remounted upon the mounting channels120 adjacent to the righthand ends thereof. The filler panel 260 ismoved to the lefthand end of the desk top 101 as is the machine bed top200, after which the reinforcing bracket 250 can be installed, thebracket 250 interconnecting the lefthand end of the desk top 101 and therighthand end of the machine bed top 200. The end panel 300 is mountedupon the lefthand end of the machine bed top 200 and specifically uponthe mounting channels 220 thereof.

It is next necessary to turn the back panel 400 end for end, thereby toplace what has been heretofore described as the outer wall 401 to theinside and to place what has been described hereinabove as the innerwall 411 on the outside. Such a rearrangement of the back panel 400 ispossible because the back panel 400 is symmetrical for all practicalpurposes about a vertical plane extending longitudinally therethrough.More specifically, the walls 401 and 411 are symmetrical with respect tosuch a plane as are the support brackets 440. Accordingly, the supportbrackets 440 can now be reattached to the rear mounting channels and 220thereby to interconnect the parts. Finally, the clips 450 and 460 can bereinstalled interconnecting the pedestal and the righthand end of theback panel 400 on the one hand, and the end panel 300 and the lefthandend of the back panel 400 on the other hand. It will be seen thereforethat the very same parts can be utilized to provide either a firstconfiguration of a machine bed desk wherein the pedestal 150 is disposedto the left of the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200 is disposedto the right of the desk top 101 or a second configuration wherein thepedestal 150 is disposed to the right beneath the desk top 101 and themachine bed top 200 is disposed to the left beneath the desk top 101.

From the above it will be seen that there has been provided an improvedmachine bed desk which fulfills all of the objects and advantages setforth above. More specifically, there has been provided an improvedmachine bed desk essentially of sheet metal that is simple inconstruction and economical in manufacture, and yet is rugged inconstruction and possesses all of the desired characteristics of a deskof this type. The improved machine bed desk includes a desk top 101having a pair of spaced apart mounting channels 120 secured to theunderside thereof and extending substantially parallel to the front andrear edges thereof with leg structure such as a pedestal 150' adjacentto one edge of the desk top 101 for supporting it in operative positionabove an underlying support surface, a machine bed top 200 of the samegeneral dimensions front to back as the desk top 101 and having one edgethereof disposed beneath the other edge of the desk top 101 with legstructure such as the end panel 300 for supporting the other edge of themachine bed top 200 in the operative position above an underlyingsupport surface, a pair of spaced apart mounting channels 220 secured tothe underside of the machine bed top 200 and extending substantiallyparallel to the desk top mounting channels 120 and in generallongitudinal alignment therewith, a back panel 400 disposed beneath therear ones of the mounting channels 120 and 220 connected thereto andserving to interconnect the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200 atthe rear thereof, and a reinforcing bracket 250 disposed beneath thefront ones of the mounting channels 120 and 220 and connected theretoand serving to interconnect the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200at the front thereof.

Further there has been provided a finishing panel 260 disposed betweenthe adjacent edges of the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200 andfilling the area bounded by the underside of the desk top 101 and theupper side of the machine bed top 200 and the front and rear edges ofthe tops 101 and 200, the finishing panel 260 having a wiring opening265 therein for receiving the wiring for a machine disposed on themachine bed top 200.

Finally, there has been provided an improved machine bed desk whereinthe back panel is symmetrical about a vertical plane extendinglongitudinally therethrough, whereby the parts may be assembled in afirst configuration wherein the pedestal 150' is disposed beneath thelefthand end of the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200 is disposedbeneath the righthand end of the desk top 101, and a secondconfiguration wherein the pedestal 150 is disposed beneath the righthandend of the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200' is disposed beneaththe lefthand end of'the desk top 101.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention,

it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein,and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all suchmodifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine bed desk comprising a desk top having a front edge and arear edge and a pair of end edges, a pair of spaced apart mountingchannels secured to the underside of said desk top and disposedsubstantially parallel to said front and rear edges and substantiallynormal to said end edges, leg structure adjacent to one end edge of saiddesk top for supporting it in the operative position above an underlyingsupport surface, a machine bed top having a front edge and a rear edgeand a pair of end edges, said machine bed top front and rear edges beingdisposed substantially parallel to said desk top front and rear edgesand disposed substantially in the same vertical plane and one of saidmachine bed top end edges being disposed below and substantiallyparallel to the other one of said desk top end edges, a pair of spacedapart mounting channels secured to the underside of said machine bed topand extending substantially parallel to said desk top mounting channelsand in general longitudinal alignment therewith, leg structure adjacentto the other end edge of said machine bed top for supporting it in theoperaitve position above an underlying support surface, a rear paneldisposed beneath the rear ones of said mounting channels and connectedthereto and serving to interconnect said desk top and said machine bedtop at the rear edges thereof, and a reinforcing bracket disposedbeneath the front ones of said mounting channels and connected theretoand serving to interconnect said desk top and said machine bed top atthe front edges thereof.

2. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 1, wherein said leg structureadjacent to the one edge of the desk top is a pedestal mounted on saiddesk top mounting channels and having a plurality of drawers therein anda leg disposed therebelow for sup-porting the pedestal and theassociated desk top in the operative position above an underlyingsupport surface.

3. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 1, wherein said leg structureadjacent to the other end edge of the machine bed top is an end panelmounted on said machine bed mounting channels and having a legthereunder for supporting the end panel and the attached end of themachine bed top in the operative position above an underlying supportsurface.

4. A machine bed desk set forth in claim 1, wherein said rear panelextends between and interconnects the leg structure on said desk top andthe leg structure on said machine bed top.

5. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 1, wherein said rear panel issubstantially symmetrical about a longitudinal plane therethrough,whereby said desk top and said machine bed top and said rear panel canbe arranged in a first configuration wherein said machine bed top isdisposed to the right of said desk top and a second configurationwherein said machine bed top is disposed to the left of said desk top.

6. A machine bed desk comprising a desk top having a front edge and arear edge and a pair of end edges, a pair of spaced apart mountingchannels secured to the underside of said desk top and disposedsubstantially parallel to said front and rear edges and substantiallynormal to said end edges, leg structure adjacent to one end edge of saiddesk top for supporting it in the operative position above an underlyingsupport surface, a machine bed top having a front edge and a rear edgeand a pair of end edges, said machine bed top front and rear edges beingdisposed substantially parallel to said desk top front and rear edgesand disposed substantially in the same vertical plane and one of saidmachine bed top end edges being disposed below and substantiallyparallel to the other one of said desk top end edges, a pair of spacedapart mounting channels secured to the underside of said machine bed topand extending substantially parallel to said desk top mounting channelsand in general longitudinal alignment therewith, leg structure adjacentto the other end edge of said machine bed top for supporting it in theoperative position above an underlying support surface, a rear paneldisposed beneath the rear ones of said mounting channels and connectedthereto and serving to interconnect said desk top and said machine bedtop at the rear edges thereof, a reinforcing bracket disposed beneaththe front ones of said mounting channels and connected thereto andserving to interconnect said desk top and said machine bed top at thefront edges therof, and a finishing panel disposed between the adjacentend edges of said desk top and said machine bed top and filling the areabounded by the underside of said desk top and the upper side of saidmachine bed top and the front and rear edges of said tops.

'7. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 6, wherein said finishinganel has an opening therethrough for receiving wiring for a machinemounted on said machine desk top.

8. A machine bed desk comprising a desk top including a substantiallyfiat first top plate, a first pair of mounting channels disposedadjacent to the underside of said first top plate and spaced inwardlyfrom the front and rear edges thereof and secured thereto, a pedestalmounted on said first mounting channels adjacent to one end of said desktop, first leg structure on said pedestal for supporting the pedestaland the desk top in the operative position thereof above an underlyingsupport surface, a machine bed top including a substantially fiat secondtop plate, a second pair of mounting channels disposed adjacent to theunderside of said second top plate and spaced inwardly from the frontand rear edges thereof and secured thereto, an end panel mounting saidsecond mounting channels adjacent to one end of said machine bed top,second leg structure on said end panel for supporting the end panel andthe machine bed top in the operative position thereof above anunderlying support surface, a rear panel disposed beneath the rear onesof said mounting channels and extending between and interconnecting saidpedestal and said end panel, means interconnecting the upper edge ofsaid rear panel and the rear ones of said first and second mountingchannels to interconnect said desk top and said machine bed top at therear thereof through said rear panel, and a reinforcing bracket disposedbeneath the front ones of said first and second mounting channels andconnected thereto and serving to interconnect said desk top and saidmachine bed top at the front thereof.

9. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 8, wherein said means forinterconnecting said rear panel and said mounting channels is aplurality of support brackets fixedly secured to the upper edge of saidrear panel and having openings therethrough receiving bolts engagingnuts disposed in said rear mounting channels.

10. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 8, wherein said rear panelis substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal plane therethrough,whereby said desk top and said machine bed top and said rear panel canbe arranged in a first configuration wherein said machine bed top isdisposed to the right of said desk top and said pedestal is disposed tothe left of said desk top and a second configuration wherein saidmachine bed top is disposed to the left of said desk top and saidpedestal is disposed to the right of said desk top.

11. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 8, and further comprising afinishing panel disposed between the adjacent ends of said desk top andsaid machine bed top and filling the area bounded by the upper side ofsaid desk top and the machine bed top and the front and rear edges ofsaid tops.

12. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 11, wherein said finishingpanel has an opening therein substantially centrally thereof forreceiving wiring for a machine disposed on said machine desk top.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1959 Bullock 312-194 X CASMIRA. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

1. A MACHINE BED DESK COMPRISING A DESK TOP HAVING A FRONT EDGE AND A REAR EDGE AND A PAIR OF END EDGES, A PAIR OF SPACED APART MOUNTING CHANNELS SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID DESK TOP AND DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID FRONT AND REAR EDGES AND SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID END EDGES, LEG STRUCTURE ADJACENT TO ONE END EDGE OF SAID DESK TOP FOR SUPPORTING IT IN THE OPERATIVE POSITION ABOVE AN UNDERLYING SUPPORT SURFACE, A MACHINE BED TOP HAVING A FRONT EDGE AND A REAR EDGE AND A PAIR OF END EDGES, SAID MACHINE BED TOP FRONT AND REAR EDGES BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID DESK TOP FRONT AND REAR EDGES AND DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE SAME VERTICAL PLANE AND ONE OF SAID MACHINE BED TOP END EDGES BEING DISPOSED BELOW AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE OTHER ONE OF SAID DESK TOP END EDGES, A PAIR OF SPACED APART MOUNTING CHANNELS SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID MACHINE BED TOP AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID DESK TOP MOUNTING CHANNELS AND IN GENERAL LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, LEG STRUCTURE ADJACENT TO THE OTHER END EDGE OF SAID MACHINE BED TOP FOR SUPPORTING IT IN THE OPERATIVE POSITION ABOVE AN UNDERLYING SUPPORT SURFACE, A REAR PANEL DISPOSED BENEATH THE REAR ONES OF SAID MOUNTING CHANNELS AND CONNECTED THERETO AND SERVING TO INTERCONNECT SAID DESK TOP AND SAID MACHINE BED TOP AT THE REAR EDGES THEREOF, AND A REINFORCING BRACKET DISPOSED BENEATH THE FRONT ONES OF SAID MOUNTING CHANNELS AND CONNECTED THERETO AND SERVING TO INTERCONNECT SAID DESK TOP AND SAID MACHINE BED TOP AT THE FRONT EDGES THEREOF. 